I, Robot, released as a sci-fi action thriller starring Will Smith, follows Detective Spooner as he investigates a looming conspiracy involving robots. Central to this Isaac Asimov-inspired story is the NS5 prototype robot, Sonny, who experiences emotions and questions his existence. Alan Tudyk provided both the voice and motion capture performance for Sonny, creating a character that blended mechanical stiffness with a unique emotional depth. Despite his significant contribution, Tudyk’s role received little attention in the film’s early promotions, overshadowed by Smith’s star power. This obscurity was confirmed by Tudyk himself during an interview on Toon‘d in with Jim Cummings.
Why Tudyk’s Performance Was Minimized in Marketing
Alan Tudyk explained that despite Sonny’s importance to the story and his appealing portrayal, marketing deliberately downplayed his presence. The film focuses mainly on Detective Spooner’s investigation into Dr. Alfred Lanning‘s death, yet Sonny plays a crucial role in unveiling the truth and developing his own narrative filled with dreams and purpose. Tudyk revealed that test audiences actually rated his character higher than Will Smith’s Detective Spooner. However, because the film was promoted as a vehicle for Will Smith, Tudyk’s involvement was removed from public mentions and promotional campaigns.
“So a lot of people didn’t know I did Sonny the robot in I, Robot, and there’s a reason for that. Because, they were doing test audiences with the movie, and they score the characters, this kind of test audience. And I got word back, ‘Alan, you’re testing higher than Will Smith.’ And then, I was gone. It was done. There was no publicity and my name was not mentioned. And I was like ‘no shot.’ I was like, ‘But wait, nobody’s gonna know that I…’ and they’re like, ‘Mhmm.'” — Alan Tudyk, Actor
The Emotional Investment Behind Tudyk’s Portrayal
The decision to exclude Tudyk from promotional efforts was a difficult blow, given the effort he invested in making Sonny a compelling and relatable character. Beyond I, Robot, Tudyk is recognized for roles like K-2SO in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and its series Andor, as well as his acclaimed portrayal of Harry Vanderspiegel in Resident Alien. Still, Sonny holds a distinctive place as a character who embodied humanity, hope, and inner conflict within a robotic form. Tudyk highlighted the physicality required for the role, emphasizing how he adapted movements to signify robotic behavior while conveying emotion.
“I put a lot into it because he had to move like a robot,” — Alan Tudyk, Actor
“It was whatever. At the time, I was very upset.” — Alan Tudyk, Actor
Current and Upcoming Projects for Alan Tudyk
In 2025, Alan Tudyk remains active with several notable projects. He recently completed final seasons of Andor and Resident Alien, appeared in James Gunn’s Superman, and continues voice work on Harley Quinn and The Electric State, a Netflix production by Anthony and Joe Russo. Fans can anticipate his return to Netflix on October 17 with The Twits, an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s children’s novel, featuring Margo Martindale and Johnny Vegas. Additionally, Tudyk is attached to Playdate, an action comedy inspired by Midnight Run, starring Alan Ritchson and Kevin James.
Where to Watch I, Robot and Tudyk’s Full Interview
I, Robot is currently available for streaming on Hulu. Tudyk’s complete conversation discussing his Hollywood experiences and insights into his role as Sonny can be accessed in the interview player above.
